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ZACH OSBORNE
250 MX / 2ND
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / ROEWER DESIGN / TILLS
>> Zach Osborne has been on fire for the 2017 pro motocross season. Struggling with getting good starts moto after moto, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna racer has been working his way each race from the back all the way up to the front with some very impressive rides. With several overall wins this year, Osborne means business when it comes to getting that season end championship. Heading into round nine of the season with a small cushion in the points lead the Husqvarna rider is still looking to finish out strong with more overall first place finishes. As he looked for the right lines throughout practice, he qualified fourth fastest headed into the motos for the day. Heading into the first turn in moto one he got pinched off leaving him back around 22nd, but it wasn’t unfamiliar territory for the #16 rider, and he was prepared to work his way back to that po- dium. Osborne was leaving it all out on the track as he charged his way through the pack making it up to 11th only six laps into the moto. He was gaining time quickly on the riders in front of him he stayed focused and grabbed himself a few more passes on fellow title contenders like Jeremy Martin. With less than half the race left Osborne had worked his way up to 5th, and he was not letting up at all. He slowly reeled in Mitchell Harrison until they were fighting for 4th place. Staying speedy and smart Osborne was able to snake the pass finishing off moto one with a 4th place. Not wanting another bad start he flew out of the gate putting himself in 8th around the first turn. Quickly getting by Mitchell Har- rison and Aaron Plessinger, Osborne was not stopping till he was in the front. Running 6th for several laps it looked as if the Husqvarna rider had settled into his position, but he was just inching his way closer to Colt Nichols and Dylan Ferrandis lap by lap. Eventu- ally, Osborne found the faster line getting by Nichols and onto Ferrandis’s tail. Keeping the momentum going he got by the speedy pro motocross rookie moving up to 4th. With just a few laps remaining in the moto it was now or never to get passed Cianciarulo for that podium spot, but he wasn’t going to give it up that easy. Battling it out until the end
of the moto it was close going into the finish, but Osborne had 3rd on lockdown. Finish- ing the day going 4-3 in the motos, Osborne grabbed himself another 2nd overall and a handful of points.
34 GRITMOTO • JULY 31, 2017